More than a dozen Florida counties have stopped performing on-site weddings, many stating it directly correlates to the recent gains for marriage equality in Florida.
As of Jan. 5, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Franklin, Wakulla, Baker, Clay, Duval and Pasco counties stated they will not hold wedding ceremonies at their offices, but they will all issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
On the Bay County Clerk of Court’s website, it states that they “do not perform marriage ceremonies,” but doesn’t mention when this policy was changed. It notes that couples may bring their own clergy or notary and be married on the front steps of the courthouse or on the front lawn if they wish to be married at the courthouse.
Marion County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court David Ellspermann stopped courthouse ceremonies at the beginning of Nov. 2014 for all couples after staff voiced concerns. Deputy Clerk Jack Seuss said it was a staffing issue.
“In anticipation of the same sex marriages, we had some objections from our staff and since the law does not require the clerk to perform ceremonies he made the decision to discontinue all ceremonies at the Clerk’s office,” Seuss said.
The Santa Rosa County Clerk’s Office issued a press release on Dec. 15, 2014 saying it would end marriage ceremonies starting Jan. 1, 2015.
The Wakulla County Clerk’s Office said they would no longer perform wedding ceremonies at the start of the new budget year on Oct. 1, 2014.
Okaloosa County Clerk’s Office will not offering wedding ceremonies. They changed their policies back in August 2014 after U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle’s initial ruling. Okaloosa County Clerk of Court J.D. Peacock II said Hinkle’s ruling played a major part in the decision.
Phone calls and emails from Watermark to county clerks, asking for clarification,have not been returned.
